Petunia plant named ‘Sunsurf Pidami’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Petunia  plant named ‘Sunsurf Pidami’, characterized by its semi-trailing and mounding plant habit; vigorous growth habit; freely branching habit; freely flowering habit; long flowering period; large double-type flowers that are purplish pink in color; and good garden performance.

Botanical designation: Petunia×hybrida.

Cultivar denomination: ‘SUNSURF PIDAMI’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Petunia plant, botanically known as Petunia×hybrida and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Sunsurf Pidami’.

The new Petunia plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan. The objective of the breeding program is to create new semi-trailing and mounding Petunia plants with numerous large and attractive double-type flowers.

The new Petunia plant originated from a cross-pollination made by the Inventor in July, 2008 in Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan of a proprietary selection of Petunia×hybrida identified as code number Px858-01, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietary selection of Petunia×hybrida identified as code number Px2812-01, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Petunia plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environment in Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan in September, 2009.

Asexual reproduction of the new Petunia plant by terminal cuttings in a controlled greenhouse environment in Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan since September, 2009 has shown that the unique features of this new Petunia plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Petunia have not been observed under all possible combinations of environmental conditions and cultural conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Sunsurf Pidami’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Sunsurf Pidami’ as a new and distinct Petunia plant:

-   -   1. Semi-trailing and mounding plant habit.     -   2. Vigorous growth habit.     -   3. Freely branching habit.     -   4. Freely flowering habit.     -   5. Long flowering period.     -   6. Large double-type flowers that are purplish pink in color.     -   7. Good garden performance.

Plants of the new Petunia can be compared to plants of the female parent selection. Plants of the new Petunia differ primarily from plants of the female parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Petunia have double-type flowers whereas         plants of the female parent selection have single-type flowers.     -   2. Plants of the new Petunia and the female parent selection         differ in flower color as plants of the female parent selection         have yellow-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Petunia can be compared to plants of the male parent selection. Plants of the new Petunia differ primarily from plants of the male parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Petunia have larger flowers than plants of         the male parent selection.     -   2. Plants of the new Petunia and the male parent selection         differ in flower color as plants of the male parent selection         have lighter pink-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Petunia can also be compared to plants of the Petunia×hybrida ‘Sundapin’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 24,452. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan, plants of the new Petunia and ‘Sundapin’ differed primarily in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Petunia were not as upright as plants of         ‘Sundapin’.     -   2. Plants of the new Petunia had larger leaves than plants of         ‘Sundapin’.     -   3. Plants of the new Petunia had larger flowers than plants of         ‘Sundapin’.     -   4. Flowers of plants of the new Petunia had fewer petals than         flowers of plants of ‘Sundapin’.     -   5. Petal margins of plants of the new Petunia were more undulate         than petal margins of plants of ‘Sundapin’.     -   6. Plants of the new Petunia and ‘Sundapin’ differed slightly in         flower color.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Petunia plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Petunia plant.

The photograph at the top of the sheet comprises a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘Sunsurf Pidami’ grown in a container.

The photograph at the bottom of the sheet is a close-up view of a typical flower of ‘Sunsurf Pidami’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations, measurements and values describe plants grown during the autumn in 15-cm containers in an outdoor nursery in Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan and under cultural practices typical of commercial Petunia production. During the production of the plants, day temperatures averaged 23° C. and night temperatures averaged 13° C. Plants were four months old when the photographs and the description were taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2007 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Petunia×hybrida ‘Sunsurf Pidami’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of             Petunia×hybrida identified as code number Px858-01, not             patented.         -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Proprietary selection of             Petunia×hybrida identified as code number Px2812-01, not             patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By terminal cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer and winter.—About one week at             temperatures about 15° C. to 20° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer and             winter.—About three weeks at temperatures about 15° C. to             20° C.         -   Root description.—Fibrous; white in color.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; dense. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant form and growth habit.—Semi-trailing to mounding plant             habit; freely branching habit with numerous lateral branches             developing per plant; pinching enhances lateral branch             development; vigorous growth habit.         -   Plant height.—About 17.6 cm.         -   Plant diameter.—About 37.2 cm. -   Lateral branch description:     -   -   Length.—About 20.4 cm.         -   Diameter.—About 2.9 mm.         -   Internode length.—About 1.6 cm.         -   Strength.—Strong, flexible.         -   Aspect.—Upright to outwardly.         -   Texture.—Densely pubescent.         -   Color.—Close to 144A. -   Leaf description:     -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate, simple.         -   Length.—About 5.1 cm.         -   Width.—About 2.5 cm.         -   Shape.—Ovate.         -   Apex.—Broadly acute.         -   Base.—Obtuse.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Pubescent.         -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate; reticulate.         -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to 143A.             Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to 143C. Fully             expanded leaves, upper surface: Close to 137B; venation,             close to 144B. Fully expanded leaves, lower surface: Close             to 137D; venation, close to 144B.         -   Petioles.—Length: About 7.4 mm. Diameter: About 3.3 mm.             Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Pubescent. Color, upper             and lower surfaces: Close to 137B. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower arrangement and habit.—Double-type salverform flowers             arising from upper leaf axils; freely flowering habit with             usually about 116 flowers developing per plant during the             flowering season; flowers face upright to outwardly.         -   Fragrance.—None detected.         -   Natural flowering season.—Early flowering habit, plants of             the new Petunia initiate and develop flowers about three to             four weeks after planting; long flowering period, flowering             commences naturally during the spring and plants flower             continuously throughout the summer until late autumn in             Japan.         -   Flower longevity.—Individual flowers last about seven to ten             days on the plant; flowers not persistent.         -   Flower diameter.—About 7.5 cm.         -   Flower length (depth).—About 5.4 cm.         -   Throat diameter.—About 1.7 cm.         -   Tube diameter, base.—About 6.2 mm.         -   Tube length.—About 3 cm.         -   Flower buds.—Length: About 4.2 cm. Diameter: About 1.4 cm.             Shape: Cylindrical; apex twisting. Color: Close to 145B.         -   Corolla.—Arrangement: About nine petals fused at the base             and opening into a flared trumpet. Petal length from throat:             About 2.9 cm. Petal width: About 3.5 cm. Petal shape:             Spatulate. Petal apex: Emarginate. Petal margin: Entire,             undulate. Petal texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth,             glabrous; satiny. Throat texture: Smooth, glabrous. Tube             texture: Pubescent. Color: Petal, when opening, upper             surface: Close to 68A. Petal, when opening, lower surface:             Close to 69B. Petal, fully opened, upper surface: Close to             68B; venation, close to 68B; color does not change with             development. Petal, fully opened, lower surface: Close to             69C; venation, close to 69C. Throat: Close to 150D;             venation, close to 150D. Tube: Close to 149D; venation,             close to 149D.         -   Calyx.—Arrangement: One star-shaped calyx tube with five             sepals in a single whorl and fused at the base. Sepal             length: About 1.4 cm. Sepal width: About 3.9 mm. Sepal             shape: Narrowly elliptic. Sepal apex: Obtuse. Sepal margin:             Entire. Sepal texture, upper and lower surfaces: Pubescent.             Color: Developing and fully developed sepals, upper surface:             Close to 143A. Developing and fully developed sepals, lower             surface: Close to 143B.         -   Peduncles.—Length: About 2 cm. Diameter: About 1.5 mm.             Strength: Strong, flexible. Aspect: Upright to outwardly.             Texture: Pubescent. Color: Close to 144B.         -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity per flower: Five.             Stamen length: About 1.6 cm to 2.1 cm. Anther shape:             Ellipsoidal. Anther size: About 1.8 mm by 2.7 mm. Anther             color: Close to 11D. Pollen amount: Scarce. Pollen color:             Close to 8D. Pistils: Quantity per flower: One. Pistil             length: About 1.1 cm. Style color: Close to 144B. Stigma             shape: Transversely ellipsoidal. Stigma color: Close to             144B. Ovary color: Close to 143A. Seeds and fruits: Seed and             fruit development have not been observed on plants of the             new Petunia. -   Garden performance: Plants of the new Petunia have been observed to     have good garden performance and to tolerate rain, wind and     temperatures ranging from about 5° C. to about 35° C. -   Pathogen & pest resistance: Plants of the new Petunia have not been     observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to Petunia     plants. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Petunia plant named ‘Sunsurf Pidami’ as illustrated and described. 